Basic Surveying Kabul, Afghanistan February 2011 1 This watershed rehabilitation and restoration training was prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) team of Jon Fripp (Civil Engineer USDA/NRCS), Melvin Westbrook (Director USDA-NRCS/IPD), Otto Gonzalez (International Agricultural Development Specialist - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service), Clark Fleege, (Nursery Manager, USDA Forest Service, and George Hernandez (Forester - USDA Forest Service), in consultation with Lief Christenson, (USA CJTF101 Water Resources Coordinator, Afghanistan). Contact Jon Fripp at jon.fripp@ftw.usda.gov or Otto Gonzalez at Otto.Gonzalez@fas.usda.gov for more information on this workshop.
Basic Surveying Module Topics: Reading a plan Using a hand level Measuring vertical distance Measuring a slope Establishing a level contour Measuring a cross section Basic project site survey putting the pieces together These skills are used for assessment as well as design and construction
How to read a plan A Section is a cut across a channel Width Depth
How to read a plan A Profile is a cut down the channel slope
Basic Surveying Tools Many soil conservation practices require basic measurements of a site. Surveys can be complicated but approximations can be accomplished with a minimum of effort and tools. Tape Hand level Pocket rod Compass/GPS Notebook Field pack
How to use a hand level
Look through hand level Be sure the bubble is up. Align the bubble between the cross wires The middle wire is at the same level as your eye
Use two hands Hold the tube with finger tips Brace elbows to chest Stand up straight
Don t bend over
Don t hold it with one hand
Two Hands Finger tips Elbows on chest Straight Back
How to measure a vertical distance V?
How to measure a vertical distance Measure the height of the eye of the person with the hand level Identify the height of survey rod at the point of interest The difference between these values is the difference in elevation between where the person is standing and the location of the survey rod V
How to measure a vertical distance If you do not have a tape or a rod. Find were the eye of the person with the hand level will line up on his/her partner Mark that spot of his shirt V The distance from that spot to where the person with the hand level sees is the distance that one without the level is above or below the person with the level
How to Determine a Slope The assessment of many conditions as well as the design of many rehabilitation techniques depends on the slope of the ground. These slopes are often expressed as a ratio of a horizontal measurement to a vertical measurement (V:H). Measure the V as before Measure the H with a survey tape H V
If you do not have a tape or a rod A typical pace is the same distance from the eyes to the knee. This is considered to be one increment of vertical (V) measurement. The second mans stands beside the first man and paces up hill along the slope line until this fixed point is aligned with the middle wire. The number of paces (H) is the slope distance. V H V
How To Set A Level Contour Needed for assessment Design of terraces and hillside ditches And Need Hand level Two people
Set a contour up a hill The hand level is held up to one eye so that the bubble is aligned between the cross wires. The second man stands up hill to where the contour is to be determined. The first man must be able to see some portion of his body (for example: the top of his boot) through the hand level. This point is mentally marked.
The second man slowly walks along the approximate contour. The first man tells him to walk up or down slope depending on the relative location of the marked point to the middle wire. The second man periodically scuffs the soil to mark the location of the contour.
We can check if an existing terrace is flat in the same manner 1. Have one man stand on the terrace 2. The man with the level locates a spot on the terrace man 3. The man on the terrace walks slowly along the terrace 4. If the man with the hand level sees the spot go up or down, he knows the terrace is not flat
How to determine the steepness of a slope The assessment and design for many restoration techniques are based on the slope of the ground. The slope is defined along a line that is perpendicular to a contour.
How to determine a perpendicular line The first man stands with his heels aligned to the contour. The first man stretches his arms straight out from the sides and aligns his hands to that they are along the contour.
The first man closes his eyes. While keeping his arms straight, the first man brings his hands together in front of him in a clapping motion by swinging his arms over his head. The first man opens his eyes and directs the second man to where his hands are pointing. Now measure the slope between the two as before
How to measure a section Used to assess a site Used for design and construction Section
To do this, we need to set up a level string Line level Stake String When bubble is between lines, it is level
Drive a stake on one side Drive the stake on the other side Tie String to Stake Attach line level Adjust string to achieve level
Keep the string tight Do not let it sag Tie other end of string when level
Then measure from the string
Basic Project Survey Locate Project on a Large Scale Map GPS Compass Project Site Coordinates: A location map
Draw a Specific Map of the Site Locate the site Location of test pits Water lines/power lines House Well Pit Toilet North Wells North Arrow Diversion dam Irrigation canal House Wetlands Trees Streams/Rivers Drainage Ditches, note drainage direction Trees Earth diversion Wheat field Flood irrigation Size = Slope of land (use arrows to indicate direction of drainage) Relative elevations Location and size of buildings Stream Sewage source Location of roads Any evidence of flooding Also Record Date Project Unit Survey team
Survey the site Establish a base line on some central feature Determine and locate at least two project bench marks Measure perpendicular to the base line Record the distance up the baseline of each offset Locate features based on the baseline and offset Measure elevation of ground and features Record section of channels Record slope of channels Record condition and size of structures Bench Mark 1 north corner of concrete slab at well North
Sample survey sheet Station HI FS BS Elev Description 1 3.5 100.0 TBM1, mark on NW bridge abutment 103.5 2 1.1 99.4 100.5 2.3 101.2 pnt 1, NW floor of school 2.4 101.1 pnt 2, SW floor of school 4.1 99.4 Turning point 1, mark on well casing 4.5 96.0 Center of road, 0+00 5.4 95.1 Center of road, 1+00 6.1 94.4 Center of road, 2+00 0.6 99.9 closes within 0.1 which is sufficient for recon survey purposes
Bottom line Make lots of measurements Take lots of notes